No dangerous invasive insects found in Maine Forest Service traps

The Associated Press •November 22, 2011 5:22 am

AUGUSTA, Maine — A search for invasive bugs suspected of arriving in Maine has come up empty, pleasing state Forest Service officials.

Using traps from York to Limestone containing scents of the targeted insects, the Maine Forest Service entomology staff found none of the most dangerous invasive insects they believed were threatening the state’s forests.

Out of the 2,600 trap samples processed this past year, the Forest Service found no Asian longhorned beetles or emerald ash borers.

Forest Service entomologist Charlene Donahue says the traps did come up with some bugs officials weren’t expecting, including two new beetles that were added to the agency’s collection of more than 50,000 native and exotic insects.